Jennifer and Jacques take a deeper dive into the wider, historical context of the latest conflagration in the 'middle east', brought on by US-Israel attacks on Iran.

They share some ideas for building a better future for all in the region, including: restoration of people's ability to relate across divides and differences, processes for truth-telling, serious resources allocated to reparation, and reform of the education system to foster peaceful and respectful relating.

These ideas evidently have universal application beyond the middle east, and the presenters build on them to imagine ourselves in a better system in 2050, based on true grassroots communal democracy.

References

Omar El Akkad 2025, One day everyone will have been against this, Canada, Knopf.

Illan Pappe 2025, Israel on the brink: Eight steps for a better future, UK, One World. 

David Graeber 2026, The ultimate hidden truth of the world, Penguin.

David Graeber & David Wengrow 2021, The dawn of everything: A new history of humanity, Allen Lane.

Roman Krznaric 2025, History for tomorrow: Inspiration from the past for the future of humanity, WH Allen.

Kim Stanley Robinson 2020, The minstry for the future, US, Orbit Books. (a novel)